Black Power, Civil Rights, Black history, and anything related to the empowerment of black people. From Malcolm X and Martin Luther King to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, we are interested in what empowers our people.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Our Civil Rights Record Won't Be Jocked Or Mocked

On November 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President. First he obtained enactment of the measures President Kennedy had been urging at the time of his death--a new civil rights bill and a tax cut. Next he urged the Nation "to build a great society, a place where the meaning of man's life matches the marvels of man's labor." Lyndon B. Johnson never felt the need to plagiarize Pres. Kennedy's previous efforts to bring real change, hope, peace, justice and equality to ALL people but especially to African Americans in America. LBJ proactively sought help, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, trust and unconditional prayers from our great Black leaders immediately upon taking office. In fact they were so highly sought after by Johnson that it was one of the few times our Black leaders were openly encouraged to bring their preachers, wives, husbands, children, relatives, friends and co-laborers to the white house and stay awhile. As the most powerful man and leader of the free world at the time our 36th President never attempted to take sole credit for something he couldn't have EVER accomplished without our help.

Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina a civil rights veteran and who happens to be the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, said he was rethinking his uncommitted position in South Carolina's upcoming Presidential Primary because of comments made both by Hillary and Bill Clinton that he viewed as self serving. “We have to be very, very careful about how we speak about that era in American politics.” “It is one thing to run a campaign and be respectful of everyone’s motives and actions, and it is something else to denigrate those. That bothered me a great deal.” “Dr. King’s dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” Sen. Clinton said in trying to make the case that her experience should mean more to voters than the uplifting words of Sen. Obama. “It took a President to get it done.” Be watching for Rep. Clyburn to endorse Barack Obama For President real soon.

On January 21, 2008 at the Citadel in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina the Congressional Black Caucus will be sponsoring the Presidential Democratic Debate. Soon, Mrs. Clinton without husband Bill at her side has some real explaining to do about why she (and her husband) blatantly attempted to jock our civil rights legacy to include dissing Dr. King too. Hillary recently reminded the American people with her win in New Hampshire that she finally found her voice. I hope it's not more mock tears because that would be more of the same old status quo. Remember when the little old white lady in the Wendy's commercial would shout; "WHERE'S THE BEEF?" My beef is "WHERE'S THE CHANGE WITH HILLARY AND BILL?"